Over his 35-year career, Jim Clerkin has worked for many prominent companies in the wine and spirits industry. In his current role, as President and CEO of Moët Hennessy North America, Jim is part of Moët Hennessy’s Global Executive Team, with responsibility for the company’s portfolio of global brands such as Hennessy, Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, and Belvedere, across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Jim joined Moët Hennessy in 2008, and prior to his current role, he held the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Moët Hennessy USA.

Jim began his career in Ireland, where he rose through the ranks at Guinness, to ultimately become an executive member of the Board of Directors. In 1994, Grand Metropolitan recruited him to head its Irish wines and spirits division. Following his tenure at Grand Metropolitan, Diageo appointed him as EVP and President, assuming responsibility for Diageo’s wine and spirits division in the Western region of the United States, and consecutively, he joined Allied Domecq in 2003, to lead their business in the Americas as President for North America and Canada, reporting to the Global CEO.

He currently resides in New York City, and is committed to supporting various philanthropic causes both in the U.S. and abroad.  Jim is the Chairman of Co-operation Ireland in the U.S., which is a nonprofit that promotes peace and a sustained reconciliation in his home country of Ireland and also serves as a Board Member at the Royal Academy America, a globally recognized nonprofit that promotes the arts and artists through exhibitions, education, and debate.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine recently announced Jim as the winner of the “2017 Person of the Year” award. This recognition, which celebrates individuals that have contributed significantly to the success of the wine and spirits industry, was presented at the magazine’s 18th annual Wine Star Awards.